unir

to unite

verb oo-NEER Less Common

Origin: From Latin unire ('to make one').

Also means

to join

Usage Note

Unir means to bring together physically or figuratively (unir dos cables, unir a la familia). The reflexive unirse a means 'to join' a group or movement: me uní al partido. It differs from juntar ('to gather/collect') in that unir implies a resulting bond or fusion, whereas juntar simply places things together. The past participle unido is used in los Estados Unidos (the United States).

Examples

"El puente une las dos orillas."

Natural Translation

The bridge connects the two banks.

Related Words

Explore Spanish by topic

SpanishNow

The Spanish Cheek Kiss: Greeting Etiquette by Country

Two kisses in Spain, one in most of Latin America. Master the Spanish cheek kiss greeting — which cheek first, the air-kiss mechanics, and when to shake hands.

June 3, 2026 6 min read

SpanishNow

How to Introduce Yourself in Spanish: 12 Real Phrases

Introduce yourself in Spanish with 12 ready-to-speak phrases — name, origin, age, and job — in both tú and usted, with the verb traps that trip up beginners.

June 9, 2026 5 min read

SpanishNow

El or La? Spanish Noun Gender Rules Made Simple

El or la? Spanish noun gender is ~99% readable off the word's ending. Learn the o/a defaults, LONERS, feminine endings, and the handful of rebels to memorize.

June 3, 2026 7 min read

SpanishNow

Spanish Accent Marks: 3 Rules for Every Word

A Spanish word needs an accent mark in just three cases: it breaks the default stress, it's a homophone, or a weak vowel splits off. Here are all three rules.

June 3, 2026 6 min read